The Latest Breaking News from Mariupol

Friday: EU leaders urged to tell China it will face sanctions if it offers military aid to Russia. Plus: what’s new to streaming in Australia this April.

LVIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his compatriots Thursday of a buildup of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine and of more bloodshed to come as he and Western officials continued to cast doubt on Moscow’s pronouncements of a partial military pullback around the capital of Kyiv.

The southern city of Mariupol and a "corridor" between two eastern towns, Izyum and Volnovakha, are becoming the key battlefronts in Ukraine, an interior ministry adviser said on Thursday.

The ongoing siege of the strategic city of Mariupol has trapped tens of thousands of people with dwindling supplies.

Buses head to Mariupol in another attempt to evacuate people; morale low among Russian troops, says GCHQ

Ukraine is sending scores of buses in an attempt to evacuate people from the besieged southern port city of Mariupol on Friday after Russia promised to hold fire, even as Moscow's troops continued to pound other areas of the country.

Officials have warned thousands have been forcibly removed and detained by Russian forces

LVIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his compatriots Thursday of a buildup of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine and of more bloodshed to come as he and Western officials continued to cast doubt on Moscow’s pronouncements of a partial military pullback around the capital of Kyiv.

The military chief in charge of the bombardment of civilians in eastern Ukraine is targeted in the latest round of UK sanctions.